Improvement in brick-laying machines



c. FRANKET Bick-Laying Machines.

N0-l58838, v Patentedlan.19,1u875.

NrrED YSTATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

' CHARLES FRANKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-LAVING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 158,838, dated January 19, 1875 application filed July 22, 1814.

acting hinged valve to'support the lower brick,

and combined with'a revolving shaft, provided vwith arms, acting against the lower brick, so

as to push the same horizontally out of said box in a position to fall into its proper place upon the wall; and, further, in the arrangement of a suitable box or reservoir containing the required mortar or cement at the other end of the machine, situated above a revolving wheel provided with recesses or cavities, which receive lthe mortar and spread the same upnthe bricks preparatory for the next row of bricks.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I represents a longitudinal section of my brick-lay ing machine embodying my invention. Fig. Il, right hand, shows one-half of a front view of the same, and the left-hand portion onehalf of a back View.

Similar letters represent similar parts.

A A are suitable frames to carry the different parts, and provided with rollers B B extending the whole width between the frames, to support and allow the machine to roll upon the top of the wall. On the forward end of the frames a box, G, is arranged, supported on suitable distance pieces or bars a and m. This box G is divided through partition-plates and extends nearly to the bottom of the machine. Into these compartments boxes H, filled with bricks, are placed. These boxes H serve at the same time to carry the bricks up to the top of the Wall, and are then directly j placed into the box G, with their open top downward, to allow the bricks to pass freely out of the same; but the box G may be arranged with projecting side flanges on its sides and on the partition-plates to receive the bricks from a usual hod. The bricks placed either direct into 'the compartments of the box G or into boxes H, and then inserted into said compartments, rest upon projecting side bottom flanges, w, provided near the bottom at the partition-plates as, and upon the projecting end y of a hinged valve, J, moving freely on suitable pins or bolts fast to the box G. Below this box G a revolving shaft, E, is arranged, provided with arms n n, carrying suitable rollers c on their ends. These rollers pass in their revolution into the several compartments of the box G, and come thus in contactwith the lower bricks, pushing the same forward off the side flanges w, with their forward ends still supported by the projecting end y of the hinged valve J, which latter will freely turn upon its center to allow this forward motion of the brick. When the brick is nearly pushed off from the side flanges w, the upper forward end of the same comes in contact with the diagonal plate z arranged on the valve J, whereby the lower end of the brick, which has been resting upon the projecting end y of said valve J, will slide off 'from said end y just at the moment the after end of the brick passesthe end of the side flanges w, and allowing thereby the brick to fall nearly square down upon the wall into its proper place. The valve J will then swing back again, ready to receive the forward end of the next brick. At the rear end of the frames a box or reservoir, K, is arranged, supported on the distance-bar m. Below this box K a revolving shaft, F, is arranged, around which a wheel, M, is placed, made with recesses or cavities p. The mortar or cement is put into this box K, of which the recessed wheel M forms a bottom. The recesses or cavities p of said wheelM being thus filled with the mortar or cement, the same will be spread upon the previously-laid bricks during the revolving ofthe shaft F and wheel M. On the after end of the box K a plate, L, is arranged, extending the whole width of the machine, and resting close upon the brick wall, whereby the mortar or cement thrown upon the wall by the wheel M is equally distributed and spread over the surface of the bricks.

In the center of the machine a shaft, V, is arranged, upon which a grooved pulley, C, is fixed, and at the upper part of the frames guide-pulleys D D are arranged, over which said guidepulleys D D and the pulley C a rope, R, passes, the ends of which are rmly fixed at each end of the wall. Motion being given to the shaft V by means of a suitable crank, T, the machine will move either forward or backward upon the wall by means of the connection of the rope -R with the machine, as above described. On one end ofthe shaft V a gear-wheel, P, is attached, meshing into wheels Q Q', which latter work into suitable wheels S S fast to the shafts E and F, and through which motion is communicated to said shafts E and F. To the lower part of the side frames A A plates W W are attached, projecting downward, and bearin g against the sides of the wall. These plates act as guides for the machine, and at the same time scrape o' any projecting or pressed-out mortar from the sides of the wall. If one side of the wall comes against an adjoining building the plate W on that side must be removed. When the machine has moved the whole length of the wall and laid the bricks as above described, the box G is moved to the after end of the machine, and the mortar-box Kto the forward end, and the wheel M xed upon the shaft E, when the machine is ready to operate in the opposite direction.

'Ihe wheels S, Q, and V may be made all of the same size, so as to bring their shafts in a line, and a box, similar to the box G, may be placed above the shaft ofthe wheel Q on the after end of the machine, and a box, similar to the box K, above the shaft of the wheel Q at What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A machine -for laying bricks, provided with a box at one end containing bricks, acted upon by arms attached to a revolving shaft situated below said box, and a mortar or cement box at its other end, in combination with a wheel arranged with recesses or cavities attached to a revolving shaft situated below said mortar-box, the whole being arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and specified.

2. In brick-laying machines, a box, G, divided by partition-plates :v into suitable compartments to receive the bricks, and provided, near the bottom, with projecting side an ges w and self-acting valves or hin ged plates J, the whole being arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a brick-box, G, arranged in the manner and for the purpose set forth, the self-acting hinged valve J provided with a projecting piece, y, and diagonal plate z, operating substantially as described.

4. In combination with a box, G, the movable boxes H, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

5. The mortar-box K, in combination with a wheel, M, and a plate, L, arranged and operatin g together substantially as described.

6. In combination with the side frames A of a brick-laying machine, the plates W W, projecting downward and embracing the brick wall, arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

7. In brick-laying machines, the grooved pulley C and guide-pulleys D D, in combination with a rope, It, attached to. both extreme ends of the wall, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

CHARLES FRANKE.

V\ itnesses:

HENRY E. ROEDER, IsAAc AARON. 

